A touch of masculinity in sculptural beauty.

A voluptuous silhouette. Sharply defined sidewalls. In his pursuit of ultimate sculptural beauty, Shimamoto chose Italy over England. However, upon closer inspection, the collection of Fukaya's protégé lacks the eccentricity of Fukaya himself.

"Compared to Il Micho (Hidetaka Fukaya's brand, meaning 'kitten'), the nose is about 5 millimeters shorter. Also, we intentionally incorporated curves. In the case of this round toe, a key point is that the peak of the ridge when viewed from the side is shifted slightly backward. We also paid attention to the heel. The side view drops straight down, but the back is subtly tapered. We aimed for a slightly masculine silhouette."

The car he had in mind was the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 Stradale. It's a legendary car, said to be one of only a few in the world. He said it was the first car that truly inspired him in terms of design.

"Shoes and cars have similarities in their form, but this was the first time I consciously considered that when carving the wooden shoe last."

Shimamoto's aesthetic sense extends even to the smallest details.

"We've left a few millimeters of space between the stitching at the lace stay. This gap creates a nice, relaxed feel. And then there's the diamond-shaped perforations hidden in the medallions and other details—these are Olma's icons. I believe that in men's shoes, it's the accumulation of subtle differences that creates individuality."


The brand name Olma means "footprint" in Italian. It embodies the idea of the craftsman's footprints to date and the footprints of the owner who will become their partner in the future. The logo, which is designed to resemble a footprint, also features a wild boar, a symbol of happiness in Florence, and the footprints of this boar are also incorporated into the design.

What impressed me most when we sat down together was the competitive spirit that occasionally shone through his gentle demeanor. When I teased him at the end of the interview, saying that a wild boar could beat a cat, he laughed silently. I think Fukaya accepted him as an apprentice because he sensed that kind of temperament.

His comment about not being specifically taught how to make wooden molds was also quite impressive.

"I've been using Mr. Fukaya's wooden molds every day to last the leather. My hands have memorized it."

The pointed perforations are typical of Shimamoto's style.

Works by Patrick Frye, "the world's best shoemaker," will be on special display, and top-winning shoes from the "World Championship In-Shoemaking" will be gathered at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building !

Event Information

"World Championship In Shoemaking" Exhibition

□October 3rd (Wednesday) - 9th (Tuesday)
□ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , B1F = Men's Shoes
▶Learn more here

inquiry
Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , B1F = Men's Shoes
03-3352-1111 (main representative)